The Future of Nostalgia in Fashion
Image Courtesy: Elle
As a society, we are obsessed with things from the past. We look back fondly on technology and fashion that preceded us, for it reminds us of a simpler time. Within the current fashion cycle, we have seen the popularization of numerous eras. One of the most recent trends for fashion has been the resurgence of Y2K. The bright and eclectic aesthetic was popularized through TikTok and Pinterest. This aesthetic hasn't been around for that long, yet we feel a certain nostalgia for it.
The question of nostalgia emerges as we long to replicate eras we weren’t alive to experience. While teenagers on the cusp of Gen Z were around for the initial Y2K phase, many younger teens from the early 2000s chased after a romanticized version of the past, detached from their own present. When Stranger Things premiered on Netflix in 2016, we saw a resurgence of the 80s aesthetic. High schoolers put together outfits that resembled their favorite characters from the show. We often feel a connection to remnants of the past because they represent another reality that we subconsciously long for.
So, what happens when we begin to run out of eras to pull inspiration from? We have already reached this Y2K aesthetic, and it hasn’t even aged twenty years. Where do we look next for inspiration in fashion?
We have tapped into nostalgia for an imagined future. In many television shows where the characters travel or flash forward in time, we see that the fashion is different from those characters’ present realities. While this is done to visually distinguish between two eras, the style is obviously different. The apparels are typically futuristic looking with graphic patterns and metallic features. Such fashion is usually a bit odd or eccentric, and the makeup is also usually done in some graphic or avant-garde form. This aesthetic has been played up in recent pop culture moments, especially with makeup. Euphoria is a perfect example of futuristic makeup, for these makeup looks are derived from the editorial level rather than everyday wear. While Euphoria's artistic edge does not come from a specific era, we still feel a certain nostalgia for it.
Image Courtesy: Buzzfeed
This nostalgia exists because we have seen this type of fashion before in pop culture and media. We just never expected it to transcend into everyday wear. A recent aesthetic that falls within the vein of nostalgia for the future is post-apocalyptic chic. This style requires a lot of neutral tones with scraps of torn fabric draped on someone’s body. Doja Cat is a celebrity that has taken a liking to this aesthetic; she dons similar-styled clothing during her performances. The styles are reminiscent of our current DIY obsession and embody a time that has technically never existed. The stress from this pandemic has taken a toll on the general population, and many feel desperate and hopeless as a result. This aesthetic is representative of an era that we hope to not fall into.
Image Courtesy: Austin360
While the world hasn’t devolved into a full-blown apocalypse yet, it is interesting to see how the influence of nostalgia extends to things that haven’t happened yet.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabella Botero
Editors: Noelle Knowlton & Lexi Fernandez
Tallahassee